What is Present Moment?
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Dear Pragmatic Seeker,
Many people think present moment is summation of all the events happening in the universe right now. Based on this idea, many even think that the mindfulness techniques where you take you attention to events happening around you, is an experience of present moment. But let me break it for you, both ideas are wrong.
The mindfulness technique of observing activities, events and sounds around you is great, by the way. There is nothing wrong with it. But to think that this technique is what the present moment feels like, would be a cute mistake.
Let me first debunk top 3 wrong notions about present moment
- It is an event happening right now. No, It is not.
- It is sum of all the events happening right now in the universe. No, this idea is flawed too (because of the theory of relativity).
- Present moment is not past and future. You are right. This is correct. But that doesn’t explain what is it.
So, what is present moment then?
I haven’t read any better answer to this question other than what sage Eckhart Tolle has explained in “The Power of Now”. It is in the name of his book. He better have explained it in there.
Well, he has.
What sage Eckhart Tolle says is, “Present Moment is your Being. Your Presence.”
Although that’s all there is to it, I am sure it made no difference to you. The 3 wrong notions above sounded better that this.
Being? Presence? What are these?
If you really want to grasp what it means when he says, “Present moment is your being”, read “The Power of Now”.
This book has a good relatable explanation.
Rather if you are a meditator or a mindfulness practitioner, I would suggest skip “The Power of Now”, go get the book “Practicing The Power of Now” by the same author.
It is not enough to just read about present moment. It defeats the purpose of its definition. It is to be experienced. So do all the reflections mentioned in the book. I am sure somewhere you will get a glimpse of the present moment.
Once you get it, that will be the answer.
